Stephen A. Smith has never been one to shy away from controversy, but his latest hot take might have just driven off a cliff and into a sand trap. The ESPN personality sparked immediate outrage this week by declaring that NASCAR drivers and professional golfers are not true athletes, dismissing their elite skills while praising the longevity of NBA superstar LeBron James.
The Provocative Take Heard 'Round the Sports World
During his "Mad Dog Sports Radio" show, Smith was discussing athletes who have maintained excellence deep into their careers when a caller suggested NASCAR legend Richard Petty deserved recognition. Smith immediately shot down the idea. "Come on, man. That don't count. You driving a car," Smith fired back. "I'm being honest, it's a great sport. But come on, bro. Getting behind the wheel of a car is not the same."
He didn't stop there. Smith expanded his critique to include the fairways, delivering a blistering assessment of golf's athletic demands. "A golfer is not an athlete. A NASCAR driver is not an athlete," Smith declared. "Just because you gotta walk the course for 18 holes for four days, that don't make you an athlete. They're skilled players, they're elite at what they do. But athletes? Athletes? Are you kidding me?"
Skill vs. Athleticism: Smith Draws a Hard Line
Smith doubled down on his stance, arguing that activities accessible to older adults don't qualify as athletic pursuits. "If you're out there doing stuff that grandmas and grandpas can do, I'm not gonna look at you that way," he said, while begrudgingly acknowledging the immense skill involved. "You're skilled, you're phenomenally skilled as a golfer...but that is not an athletic sport."
The comments instantly lit up social media, with fans and analysts from both sports firing back. Many pointed to the extreme physical and mental demands of piloting a stock car at 200 mph for hours in blistering heat, or the core strength, flexibility, and precision required to drive a golf ball 300+ yards with consistency. The debate over NASCAR's evolving fanbase often touches on the athleticism of its drivers, but Smith's comments framed it in the starkest terms yet.
Legends in the Crosshairs
Smith's dismissal seems particularly harsh when applied to icons like the seven-time Daytona 500 winner Richard Petty, whose museum stands as a testament to a monumental career, or golfing greats like Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus. Petty's record 200 NASCAR Cup Series wins and seven championships represent a level of dominance few in any sport have achieved. This controversy echoes other recent debates in the racing world, like the uproar over late-race restart rules that test a driver's split-second reactions.
In the golf world, Smith's take arrives amid a turbulent period for the sport's structure. While he questions golfers' athleticism, the business side is facing its own shakeups, with players like Bryson DeChambeau navigating potential exits from the LIV Golf circuit. Furthermore, the crossover between sports continues to grow, as seen when Michael Jordan's NASCAR team ownership generates as much buzz as his basketball legacy.
The Never-Ending Debate
Ultimately, Smith's comments have poured gasoline on the perennial sports bar argument: What exactly defines an athlete? Is it pure physical exertion, measurable speed and strength, or the combination of hand-eye coordination, mental fortitude, and elite skill under pressure that both racing and golf demand in spades?
One thing is certain: Stephen A. Smith has successfully stirred the pot once again. Whether you agree with his polarizing stance or find it completely out of bounds, the debate over the athletic credentials of drivers and golfers is now back in the spotlight, and it's not pulling into pit road anytime soon.
